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Started By
Message
charcoal type for big green egg
Posted on 7/25/25 at 5:47 pm
Posted on 7/25/25 at 5:47 pm
Getting a large size big green egg from a friend. I've never used one. BGE website says to use lump charcoal. How rigid is this suggestion/requirement? Anyone use briquettes with no problems? Sorry if already discussed, didn't see any prior topics. Thanks.
21
Posted on 7/25/25 at 5:59 pm to gungho
You don't want to use any kind of lighter fluid. If you can light the briquettes without using lighter fluid or using matchlight variety, it might be OK.
Posted on 7/25/25 at 6:16 pm to gungho
I like using lump because I smother the fire and re-use the charcoal on the next fire. I don’t think briquettes hold up as well.
Posted on 7/25/25 at 6:21 pm to Epaminondas
yes, haven't used lighter fluid for decades. Now use chimney starter
Posted on 7/25/25 at 6:58 pm to gungho
Royal Oak lump is what I use. I also use royal oak tumbles to start it. Do not use a chimney if you are trying to smoke meat. You need to gradually heat the fire to control the temperature.
Posted on 7/25/25 at 7:12 pm to gungho
Professional grade kings ford charcoal I usually get at Costco
Posted on 7/25/25 at 8:50 pm to gungho
Jealous Devil charcoal is what you want. Royal Oak is garbage.
Posted on 7/25/25 at 8:54 pm to gungho
High heat grilling or chicken - lump charcoal.
Low and slow consistent temps for long smokes - briquettes.
Don't get caught up in the brands. Find the best deal at the supermarket near you and you'll be fine.
Low and slow consistent temps for long smokes - briquettes.
Don't get caught up in the brands. Find the best deal at the supermarket near you and you'll be fine.
This post was edited on 7/25/25 at 8:56 pm
Posted on 7/25/25 at 9:06 pm to xXLSUXx
Posted on 7/25/25 at 10:02 pm to gungho
Rockwood lump charcoal is my go to
Posted on 7/26/25 at 6:56 am to gungho
quote:
rigid is this suggestion/requirement?
I've had my BGE twenty yers. You don't want to use briquette style charlcoal because it has chemicals in it that will leach into the pores of the BGE. You only want to use lump style coal because it's natural with no chemicals added. Also don't ever use lighter fluid because of the same reason.
I roll a paper towel up and stick it in some cooking oil then nestly it in the coal and light it.
Posted on 7/26/25 at 8:50 am to gungho
I’ve had two BGE for 20 years as well , what is the deal with not using lump, it is cheap and burns great. I use one tumble weed brand as a starter. Fire is ready in 5 to 7 minutes.
Posted on 7/26/25 at 9:15 am to BIG Texan
Not that big of a deal, just asking cause I haven't used lump before, it used to be not as available as briquettes , apparently moreso now. Not aware of different characteristics.
Posted on 7/26/25 at 9:18 am to BIG Texan
So one poster said lump better for higher heat/grilling, briquettes better for lower, slower, I e. smoking-what say ye?
Posted on 7/26/25 at 11:39 am to gungho
Royal Oak. It's the same as the Big Green Egg brand just cheaper. Available at Home Depot.
This post was edited on 7/26/25 at 11:40 am
Posted on 7/26/25 at 11:41 am to delta_zulu
Posted on 7/26/25 at 11:47 am to gungho
FOGO XL Lump. Yellow bag.
Posted on 7/26/25 at 1:20 pm to gungho
I use the largest lump charcoal i can. I think its jealous devil that has xl lumps. Royal oak as my fallback. I find the cowboy one to crackle too much.
I typically use the looft lighter but try to keep a pack of those tumbleweed around bc those are prob the best. I like having the looft lighter bc I inevitably will be out of the tumbleweed when im ready to start cooking. Tumbleweed for unattended starts, looft when I have a few minutes to stand over it and I can get it ripping hot in a few minutes
I typically use the looft lighter but try to keep a pack of those tumbleweed around bc those are prob the best. I like having the looft lighter bc I inevitably will be out of the tumbleweed when im ready to start cooking. Tumbleweed for unattended starts, looft when I have a few minutes to stand over it and I can get it ripping hot in a few minutes
Posted on 7/26/25 at 1:33 pm to gungho
quote:
So one poster said lump better for higher heat/grilling, briquettes better for lower, slower, I e. smoking-what say ye?
Not sure why I got down voted for saying that. But it's objectively 100% true. Lump burns hotter and the size between pieces are different - so your temp will vary throughout the cook.
Briquettes are all the same size, so you will get a more even temp and longer burn, which matters a hell of a lot when you're smoking a 12+ hr brisket on a ceramic smoker that's a pain in the arse to refill charcoal into mid-cook.
People will swear by their brands, but all will have the occasional "off" bags with smaller pieces. I've used every brand mentioned in this thread countless times and I can tell you in the end it makes such a small difference it's not worth worrying about.
This post was edited on 7/26/25 at 1:38 pm
Posted on 7/26/25 at 1:35 pm to gungho
Rockwood has been my go to since 2016. Absolutely amazing.
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